Paul Bryant, Jr., Elected Chairman of the Civil War Preservation Trust

(Washington, D.C.) - Alabama businessman Paul W. Bryant, Jr. was recently elected by the Board of Trustees of the national Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) to serve as its new chairman. With 39,000 members, CWPT is the largest nonprofit battlefield preservation organization in the United States. Bryant will assume the chairmanship at CWPT's annual conference on April 24, 2002.

"Paul Bryant's lifelong commitment to the preservation of Civil War history is legendary," remarked Princeton historian James M. McPherson, author of Battle Cry of Freedom. "Few people are more passionate about the need to protect this nation's hallowed battlegrounds. His enthusiasm and leadership will be enormous assets for CWPT."

CWPT has been active in rescuing some of the most hallowed ground in America, including key parcels at Antietam and South Mountain, Md.; Gettysburg, Pa.; Shiloh and Stones River, Tenn.; and Brandy Station, Malvern Hill and Manassas, Va. Over the years, CWPT has helped protect more than 14,000 acres at 75-plus historic sites in 18 states.

University of Virginia historian Gary Gallagher, editor of the Military Campaigns of the Civil War series, applauded Bryant's selection as chairman: "I have long been struck by the quietly effective way in which Paul Bryant goes about supporting things he considers important. He has a remarkable record as an advocate for Alabama's Civil War heritage. I look forward to a period of splendid accomplishment for CWPT under his leadership."

Former National Park Service historian Robert K. Krick, author of Stonewall Jackson at Cedar Mountain, joined in the praise of Bryant: "Paul Bryant is admirably equipped to lead the drive to save those priceless pieces of our national heritage. Bryant's lengthy record of generosity to educational programs in Alabama, and his years of involvement in historic preservation projects, makes him the ideal candidate for this post."

Bryant succeeds Carrington Williams, who became chairman of CWPT in November 1999.

Bryant is President of Greene Group, a privately held diversified holding company. He is trustee of the University of Alabama System; chairman of the University of Alabama Crimson Tradition Foundation; trustee of the Museum of the Confederacy, Richmond, Va.; and member of Sons of Confederate Veterans.

CWPT is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit battlefield preservation organization. Its mission is to preserve our nation's endangered Civil War battlefields and to promote appreciation of these hallowed grounds.